Tag: routine

Are You a Morning or Night Person?

Have you ever wondered why some people leap out of bed with endless energy while others find their creative groove long after the sun has set? Whether you’re a morning person who thrives in the early hours or a night owl who comes alive as the day winds down, understanding your natural rhythm can help you tailor your day to make the most of your time and energy.

woman in gray tank top lying on bed

Morning People: Embracing the Dawn

If you love waking up early and feel energized as soon as your feet hit the floor, you’re likely a morning person. Morning people often find they’re at their best in the early hours, making this the perfect time to tackle important tasks, exercise, and enjoy some quiet time before the world wakes up.

Benefits of Being a Morning Person:

Tips for Morning People:

  1. Prioritize Tasks: Tackle your most important or challenging tasks first thing in the morning when your energy is highest.
  2. Exercise Early: Morning workouts can boost your energy levels and mood for the rest of the day.
  3. Enjoy Quiet Time: Use the early hours for meditation, reading, or planning your day without distractions.

Night People: Finding Inspiration After Dark

If you find your creative juices flowing and motivation peaking later in the day, you’re likely a night person. Night owls often feel more alert and focused as the day progresses, making the evening hours ideal for brainstorming, creative work, or deep thinking.

Benefits of Being a Night Person:

  • Enhanced Creativity: Many night owls experience heightened creativity and problem-solving abilities in the evening.
  • Quiet Time: Late-night hours are often quiet and free from interruptions, perfect for focused work.
  • Flexibility: Night people can enjoy a flexible schedule, making the most of their peak productivity times.

Tips for Night People:

  1. Identify Peak Times: Determine when you feel most alert and schedule your most demanding tasks during these hours.
  2. Create a Relaxing Morning Routine: Start your day gently, allowing yourself time to wake up fully before diving into work.
  3. Stay Active: Incorporate exercise into your day to maintain energy levels and promote better sleep.

The good news is that regardless of whether you’re a morning person or a night owl, you can tailor your day to suit your natural mood and maximize your potential. Here’s how:

1. Understand Your Energy Patterns: Pay attention to when you feel most energetic and focused. This self-awareness is key to planning your day effectively.

2. Schedule Accordingly: Plan your most important tasks during your peak energy times. For morning people, this might be early in the day, while night people might schedule their critical work in the late afternoon or evening.

3. Establish a Routine: Consistency is important for both morning and night people. Establish a routine that aligns with your natural rhythm to maintain balance and productivity.

4. Balance Work and Rest: Ensure you’re getting enough rest and taking breaks throughout the day. Overworking can lead to burnout, regardless of your preferred schedule.

5. Communicate Your Needs: If possible, communicate your preferred working hours to colleagues or supervisors. Flexibility in the workplace can help you perform at your best.

Whether you’re a morning person who thrives with the sunrise or a night owl who finds inspiration under the stars, understanding and embracing your natural mood is crucial. By tailoring your day and routines to match your energy patterns, you can ensure you’re giving yourself the best possible opportunity to have a productive and fulfilling day.

So, are you a morning person or a night person?

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

WEEKEND SELF CARE TO DO LIST

We made it another week. It’s the weekend and we can’t forget to prioritize our selves. No matter how big or small, get your weekend self care checklist ready. SELF CARE HABITS: 6 WEEKEND HABITS FOR A GOOD WEEK

young black lady resting on sofa and watching tv at home

My Self Care To Do List:

  1. Deep condition my hair. https://amzn.to/39b1GnU
  2. Give my hands and feet some TLC. Mani and pedi time.
  3. Go for a walk at the nature center.
  4. Binge Watch Season 2 of ”Love Is Blind” on Netflix.
  5. Sleep In. I give myself at least one day to sleep in.
  6. Clean out my fridge.
  7. Journal out my feelings and thoughts. https://amzn.to/3MzZc08
  8. Grocery shop and cut my fruit.
  9. Relax.
  10. Drink lots of water. https://amzn.to/3aUlqwJ
  11. Try not to get on my phone much.
  12. Write and edit.
  13. Spend time with my husband and kids.
  14. Take a hot bath.
  15. Light my new candle. https://amzn.to/3O6GLRJ

Those are my 15 self care activities for this weekend. It’s a combination of taking care of my mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. Before the day ends make sure you get your list together.

Have a great weekend!!!!!

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

5 TIPS TO BEAT THE AFTERNOON SLUMP

Lately because work has been slow, I had begun to get these afternoon slumps. I had to switch somethings up in my routine to give myself an afternoon pick me up. Here are a couple of tips to beat that afternoon slump.

boy in white dress shirt using macbook pro
  1. Healthy Snack. Because I work in an office setting and sit at a desk for hours it’s important for me to choose wisely when it comes to snacking. Try this very tasty but inexpensive blend mix to give you some energy. https://amzn.to/3aFamU2 This week I focused on packing fresh fruits, several different kinds of trail mix, and a good protein bar. All are packed with natural flavors, low sugar, and high in protein. Opting for a healthy snack provides more energy and benefits than cookies, chips, or candy.
  2. Water. Water. Water. Staying hydrated is a must. The more water I drink the more I’m going to have to get up and go to the bathroom, which is a good thing. The more water you drink the less you snack. Also the more water you drink, is a great way to reduce belly bloating. And of course your skin stays clear. Yes, I slice lemon in the morning, place it in a baggy, and in my lunch bag. This helps me keep variety and flavor with my water. Limit the soda and sugary coffee drinks that will give you an afternoon crash.
  3. Get Up and Move. Taking a 5-10 minute break is essential to beating the afternoon slump. Go outside, get some fresh air, and walk around. 6 TIPS FOR MONDAY MORNING BLUES Give your eyes a break from looking at a computer screen. This will give you a natural boost of energy. If you can, go to a coworker desk and have a quick chit chat. Don’t do anything work related for a few moments.
  4. Turn on tunes. Sometimes if it’s too quiet I will turn on some soft music. If you can, create some noise or distraction for you to focus on where only you can hear at your desk. If I don’t do some soft jazz, I’ll turn an audio book, or video on YouTube. The goal here is to give your mind something else to hear and focus on.
  5. Routine Switch. This is simple and works. Among your daily tasks switch up your routine. Find a way to make your job interesting but yet still productive. Doing the same thing day after day will get boring and provides lack of enthusiasm. Bonus Tip: Get creative and switch your desk around. Spruce up your work area.

These tips to beat the afternoon slump is for anyone to use. You don’t have to work in an office setting. If you work from home these are great tips. If you’re a stay at home mom, the tips can help. Adjust and tailor them to fit your needs.

Have a great day everyone!!!!!

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

SIMPLE SELF CARE MORNING ROUTINE WHEN FEELING BLUE

We’ve all experienced those days that are blue. We feel tired, not interested in getting out of bed, eating, or talking to anyone. Sadly if we don’t get up and just lay in the bed, it could turn into something darker than we want it to or need to. So here is a simple morning routine you can do when you’re feeling blue.

woman in white tank top posing with peace sign

5a.m.-7a.m.-Wake up early even if you don’t have anywhere to go or nothing to do. Laying in bed too long effects not only your mental psyche but your physical body will get stiff and soar. Just getting out of bed is an accomplishment in itself. It signals the brain that you care about yourself and you want to be somebody that day.

7a.m.-7:15a.m.-Affirm yourself and the day. Once you wake up, sit up in the bed and first affirm ”Today is going to be a great day.” ”I am deserving of all the good that is going to come to me today.” Then take 5 more minutes to pray and thank God for giving you breath in your body and movement in your limbs to make it another day. Or you can opt to meditate for 5 minutes and focus on your breathing and being in the moment.

7:15a.m.-7:30a.m.-Instant boosts of energy. Get out of bed and stretch. Then make your bed up. That is another small self care activity that provides a sense of accomplishment. Do a good body stretch to awaken your blood flow, bones, and circulation. This will give you an instant boost of energy and motivation to want to proceed with your day. After stretching open your blinds and curtains. Even if it’s raining or gloomy out. If you can, open the window for some fresh air.

7:30-8a.m.-Spend time with yourself. Head to the bathroom and freshen up. During this time look at your beautiful face in the mirror. Take your time having a moment alone to yourself. In this moment, shower, brush teeth, wash face, do your hair, and makeup if you want to. Put on something cute but comfy. Lastly, give yourself another instant boost of confidence by putting on some perfume.

8a.m.-8:30a.m.-Feed your soul. Have yourself a bottle water. Take some vitamins or medications if you’re required to have them. Fix yourself a nice colorful and healthy breakfast. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE: 5 SIMPLE AND QUICK BREAKFAST IDEAS Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea. Sit down and enjoy your breakfast that you made for yourself. No phones or distractions allows you to once again be in the moment and intentional.

8:30a.m.-9a.m.-Connect mentally and emotionally. Take time to journal and reflect on how you’re feeling. Brainstorm your life, goals, dreams, and desires. Write down what you need to do, have accomplished, and prioritize the list. This gives you an opportunity to purge out the negative, motivation to take steps later in the day towards your goal, and a place to hold yourself accountable. Also during this time you may read a book, listen to a podcast, or watch a motivational video to get your spiritual tank full. Try an affirmation journal like the one below to help you build your confidence and self esteem. https://amzn.to/3aIMKxY

This is just an example morning routine you can do when not feeling your best. Each step is to motivate, provide energy, and give a small sense of accomplishment. You may adjust steps, times, or anything needed to suit your needs. The goal is to get yourself back on track.

Be well on your journey.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

WEEKLY BLOG: EASTER SUNDAY, LONG WORK DAYS, & SUMMER PLANNING

This week we are focusing on the end of the school year. What camps the kids are going to go to or if they want to go. Also because an agent left, I’m going to be working longer days until the new agent gets comfortable.

Sunday: Happy Easter!!!!!!! After getting in late last night from game night night, we showered and went to bed. My plans were to get up early and cook. I wanted to have dinner early and have a little time in the evening to relax before the work week. Because my kids are older some of the traditions we just don’t do anymore. I did get up early and have dinner ready by late afternoon early evening. We enjoyed more game night and then relaxed. The kids had a great time, enjoyed the food, and family. That is all that matters. We capped the evening off watching the NBA playoffs.

Monday: Finally a work day in which I don’t struggle to get up. Very brisk and cool this morning. Great start to a work week. Prepared to be at the office longer than usual this week. However, it made for a good day because I was busy all day. Dinner was simple because we had leftovers from Easter Sunday. After a long day and work out I was ready to turn in early.

Tuesday: I feel good this morning. I’m going to have a great day even though I will be at the office longer than usual. Had a good coffee date with the hubs this morning. And I had a chance to publish WHICH SELF CARE CATEGORIES ARE YOU DOING WELL IN?. It’s sunny but cool out. Until more storms tonight. Today we are planning our summer ”vacations”. We aren’t going to do a week long vacay anywhere. However, my family enjoys 3-4 day adventures to different cities and places. The kids have had a couple of request so we’re going to begin planning and prepping for that.

Wednesday: Cold rainy morning. Enjoyed coffee run with the hubs again, as we plan our son 16th birthday. Late last night we were successful in planning our summer plans and we wanted to begin the fall. Does anyone else do quarterly or seasonal planning? Sometimes we just like to have an idea or throw some things out there ahead of time. Couldn’t stay late at work today due to scheduling. Great evening with kids. It’s only 25 more school days and keeping them motivated is a challenge. But we’re getting through it.

Thursday: Very good journal writing session before heading off to work. I was feeling a little anxious. I have so much in my head I want to do or have started and exercising patience has been challenging. Even though I was very busy at the office today I was able to do some planning, create some ideas, and prepare for the second half of the year. After work, because it’s so beautiful out, I decided to walk outside. The calmness, clarity, and peace was amazing for me to have a great night in. Before bed, we finalized our plans for Mother’s Day.

Friday: Sort of busy this morning. With running errands and dropping off packages. Another long day at the office for me. Ready to check out for the weekend. Right now there isn’t too much planned for the weekend. I plan to do some work from home to get started on my summer goals and second half of the year goals. After work, which was a great day, my son tells me theres an event at his school he wants to go to. So now there is a wrench thrown in my plans. Also my aunt is leaving tomorrow so we were going to moms for the evening. WEEKLY BLOG: NEW PERFUME, DETOX, & VISIT FROM AUNT After dropping my son off, we headed to moms until the event was over.

Saturday: I have some plans to edit ideas and posts, as well as pictures for Poshmark. My aunt left early this morning and now I’m awaiting her safe call. It’s very nice outside so after work I plan to go out for a walk. Our Saturday was very chill relaxing. The hubs and I did some financial planning and discussed some things we wanted to do with the kids more. The kids opted to stay in and relax.

Have a great week everyone!!!!!

P.S. Weekly blog is designed to show the realistic life of a working mom balancing life, family, and myself.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

WEEKLY BLOG: RECIPES, REST,& ROUTINE

Just like everyone else I had plans to get back into routine and start the new year off ”right.” So I thought I’d start doing a weekly blog roundup to track my progress to hold myself accountable. One of the things I wanted to begin doing is expressing or verbalizing the positive. After a conversation this week, I wanted to challenge myself.

If we think about it, it is easier to point out what we don’t like about ourselves. But if someone asked you what are three things you like about yourself, you’d have to think. So instead of saying what’s bad for mental health lets talk about and do what’s best for mental health.

Starting the week off Sunday into Monday I was under the weather, really bad. No I don’t have C****. But my throat was raspy and I began to lose my voice. Thank God I was off on Monday to recoup. So I began drinking tea and kind of relaxing. I knew I’d be able to relax because the kids started school back Monday.

On Sunday I did my weekly weekend routine SELF CARE HABITS: 6 WEEKEND HABITS FOR A GOOD WEEK and cleanup. Also I began working out again, because over the holiday I didn’t get to workout as much. In my mind, I was thinking I could workout and sweat this mucus out.

On to Monday, I took the kids to school and literally laid down until it was time to pick them up. I had all these plans on what I wanted to get done but my throat and sinuses had other plans. It ended up being a good thing because I laid down the entire time. Normally I would be up cleaning and working from home on my own projects. But I’m proud of myself for doing nothing.

Tuesday I made plans to perfect my baked sweet potatoes and mashed sweet potatoes. I accomplished my goal. They turned out really well. I was still feeling under the weather but pushing through. Had a really good day at the office after being off a couple of days.

Wednesday I did my midweek cleanup. As a family of 5, laundry, dishes, and clutter happens fast with everyone going to school and work everyday. I’m still a little hoarse and coughing but nothing to severe. All this time I haven’t had any other symptoms. The working out hard and sweating seems to help greatly. Also accomplished some goals on some other work I’ve been trying to do.

On to Thursday I had to refresh my manicure for some reason my polish began to chip. Usually when I do my manicure on Sunday it will last for about 10 days. I took another day of rest. After working out for several days I like to give my body a break. Also going everyday it’s good to just sit and be. I made a pasta dish that didn’t take long and relaxed the rest of the evening.

The weekend finally arrived and Friday was much better for me. I felt much better but not quite 100% yet. My work week wrapped up quietly by surprise. After the holiday season and being off, I was expecting a busy week. But it turned out to be the complete opposite. I really don’t have much plans for the rest of the weekend. Rest and relaxing will be the priority.

Saturday was a bitterly cold day. We all slept in as there wasn’t much going on. I had a couple of errands to run but nothing too major. I’m not quite a 100% but close to it. Still have a little congestion but its taking its course. My husband and I didn’t get to do our weekly date night because he had to handle some business for work. I don’t know maybe we’ll do it tomorrow. Either way I am happy with this week.

**My goals were to begin taking breaks. I have so much I want to do that any free time I get, I feel like I have to be doing something. I’m proud of myself for doing that.

**Also at the first of the year I made a decision to give my hair a break from heat styling. So I’ve been wearing my curls and been loving it again. I want to take this break and focus on health instead of aesthetic. My hair isn’t damaged, right now it’s the best thing to do for my lifestyle. I’m proud of myself for doing that.

**Lastly I love my manicure. I have perfected it to the point some think I go to the salon. It’s a great time for me to do something for me and have time to myself.

P.S. Another moment I’m proud of is I had a very rude and demanding client that took up an hour of my time and not once did I let them change my mood.

What are three things you did great this week? What are three things that made you proud of yourself this week?

Be well on your journey.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.

Why I’m not a fan of working a 9-5 job

The thought of doing the same thing over and over again for 40 years pains me to think about it. There are many reasons why I’m not fan of working a 9-5 job. I applaud those who sit at the same desk from the time they are 25 years old to 70 years old. On the other hand, I have a couple of questions, “Why and how did you do it.?”

The main reason why I”m not a fan of working a 9-5 job is because I need my brain stimulated. Doing the same thing over and over again everyday will make me bored very easy. I like to be challenged. The enjoyment I get out of problem solving and figuring things out, keeps me motivated. I guess that’s why accounting and numbers are my thing. Balancing books and figuring out that one number that’s off is my drug of choice.

Side Note: I know I promote and encourage a self care routine, but a routine that doesn’t allow me to expand or explore and wasn’t created by me isn’t a routine for me.

Another reason why I’m not a fan of working a 9-5 is there isn’t any flexibility. Because you go in at the same time everyday, sit at the same desk everyday, eat lunch at the same time, go home at the same time, and see the same coworkers, I begin to feel like the hamster on the wheel. My life as I know it is wasting away. After so long, I begin to feel like the value of what I have to offer is no longer a there. Therefore, the work become less exciting, the motivation to get it done isn’t as great, and eventually you begin to care less about production.

As a mom and wife, time for family life and handling business is little to none. The time you need to take care of certain business is during the time you’re at work everyday. Getting things done around the house is always a chore because of little time that’s available. Especially when you have kids that play sports. Your evenings are tied as well as your weekend. Not to mention, you only get one day on Saturday, because Sunday is spent getting ready for the week.

No matter how hard you work and your accomplishments, you are easily replaceable. You literally can die and they will begin looking to replace you immediately. They don’t care about you personally, even though you are spending more than 40 hours a week there. Let’s be honest, working a 9-5 your coworkers may know more about you than some family. They only care about what you can do for them.

Most of the time the company and their policies aren’t for the employees best interest. I’m not a fan of working a 9-5 and having myself or others feeling like a machine. It’s presented as such. However, the company number goal is to increase profit and maximize it with little expense. They cover themselves before you can even think of covering your behind. HR isn’t your friend. It’s the companies friend.

Final Thoughts

To give you some background, when I was in high school I thought I wanted to be a marketing consultant and a 9-5 was my destiny. However, as I got into college and began working and managing my class schedule, I knew a monotonous job and schedule wasn’t for me. I wanted to have the freedom to work and still live my life as I needed to. YOU CONTROL YOUR OWN DESTINY

Fast forward to after graduation and being a stay at home mom, I tried it, and I don’t like it. The office politics was just too much. The idea of being in the office for eight or nine hours was getting to me mentally. For starters, I knew I could be doing other things that needed to be done. Also doing something I actually loved and devoting my time to that. Finally I had too much down time, because once I was able to get into a routine and understand my duties I was able to complete them quickly.

Because of all the reasons above, the sheer motivation to get up every morning, get dressed, and have enthusiasm to get to the office just isn’t there. Why I’m not a fan of working a 9-5, I do believe you can achieve great success and results if you are efficient and proficient.

I am not a fan of working 9-5 and sitting around not doing much or being productive. Yes, I’ve heard people say “its easy money” but I don’t want easy money. I need and want to use my talents and gifts. I have a thing of needing to feel productive. Now if you’re a fan of a routine 9-5 system and it works for you that is amazing!!!!!!! I just need the flexibility to be creative, challenged, and motivated.

RosalynLynn

Be you so you can be free.